Newham

Newham's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, relationships and jobs.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Newham increased by 26%, from almost 244,000 to 308,000.

The addition of about 64,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in London and was the third fastest-growing across England.

In 2011, Newham was home to, on average, 61 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Newham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Newham remained 29 years.

This urban area had the second-lowest average age in London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 30,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by almost 700.

About 24% of people in Newham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Newham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Newham saw England's largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Newham overtook 12 local authority areas, including Wandsworth and Haringey, to become the English local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of private renting.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households in Newham rented privately, compared with 18% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 36% to 30%.

Tower Hamlets saw the next largest rise (from 16% to 33%).

Private renting in Newham increased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newham, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Newham saw England's largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in Newham had only one person, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 5.6% to 5.7%.

Camden saw the next largest fall (from 46% to 41%).

The percentage of households with only one person in Newham decreased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newham, London and England that comprised only one person, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

Newham saw England's largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Newham overtook five local authority areas, including Cheltenham and Exeter, to become the English local authority area with the highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 12 (8.4%) people aged 16 to 74 in Newham said they were in education, compared with 4.3% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 43% to 42%.

Lincoln saw the next largest rise (from 3.7% to 7.0%).

The percentage of students in Newham increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Newham, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

Newham saw England's largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Every local authority area across London saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 2.0% to 3.3%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (5.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newham said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 9.3% to 7.1%.

Newcastle upon Tyne saw the next largest rise (from 2.1% to 4.3%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newham increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newham, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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